AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

NOTES FROM DUNEDIN THE AMERICANS' TOUR (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") DUNEDIN, This Day. Oue of the unluckiest athletes in Otago is L. C. M'Laehlan, who was awarded the New Zealand 880 yards championship two years ago as the result of the disqualification of N. J. Suckling, of Canterbury. He reached the top of his form last season, just on tho eve of the New Zealand championships at Wanganui, but the day before the meeting had the misfortune to be afflicted with a boil under a knee, which affected him so badly that he was unable to get down for the 440 yards championship start, and was unable to compete at all in the 880 yards event, in which he was looked upon as one of Don Evans's strongest opponents. Ho began this season's preparations some time ago, but has already had to lay off on account of an injured ankle.

A youngster from whom good things arc expected has won his first two races in open company in Dnnedin athletics. He is A. R. Gcddis, and on Labour Day he won the mile handicap off the 90 yards mark, and at the first evening meet on Thursday night carried off tho naif-mile off 35 yards. It was raining heavily, and the track was very sodden, so that his 2min 9sec was not so bad as it looked. He has a nice stride and a free and easy action, and as he will bo carefully nursed along by the Civil Service Club, more is sure to be heard of hin> this season. At the same meeting Otago's crack cyclist, J. C. Fogarty, scored another great win from the back mark in the one mile A grade cycle handicap. There is every possibility of the American athletes appearing in Dunediu at the New Zealand amateur track and field championships this season. The Otago Centre originally recommended that the New Zealand track and field championships bo held here on 6th and 7th March, but this date clashed with, the appearance of the American athletes in Christehurcn, and the position was met by the council reviewing the position with the result that the New Zealand Council decided to adhere to Mie present itinerary for the American • rhletes, and to request the Otago •••■ ntre to hold the New Zealand cliam-i>i-unships at Dunedin on 27th and 28th February, at which meeting the American athletes would appear. It has been suggested that profits from the New Zealand championships should be divided as follows:--One-third of the net profits to go to the Otago Centre as its proportion of the profits which would ordinarily accrue from the New Zealand championships, the other two-thirds of the profits to go towards the American tour account. This matter will be considered at a meeting of the Sports Committee of tho Otago Centre next week, at which the question of agreeing to the inclusion of Harlow Eothcrt, the all-round field athlete in the American team, will be reconsidered at the request of the council, the cost being only an extra £10 per meeting. The New Zealand Council seems to have met Otago most fairly in the matter, and there should be every prospect of a satisfactory agreement being reached.